Cemeteries and graveyards, full of love, betrayal, tragic deaths, murder, and suicide. What will you find?

Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Fanny Brewer



Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Fanny Brewer, St James the Less, Stubbings.

"Scared to the memory of Fanny.  Loved and loving wife of Frederick Brewer of Woodlands, Burchetts Green.  Who died Nov 5th 1894 aged 46 years.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
He giveth his beloved sleep."


Fanny Brewer was born Fanny Hawkins at St George the Martyr, Surrey 1848 to Charles, a clerk in a paper mill and Esther Hawkins.  On 12th January 1876 Fanny married Frederick Brewer, an accountant, and became saddled with a name that would make many of us titter today.  Fanny Brewer.

Fanny and Frederick had no (living) children despite their 18 year marriage.  Fanny passed away in 1894 aged just 46 years.  Throughout their lives together Fanny's sister Jessie Ann lived with them.

Sadly I cannot find what happened to Frederick or Jessie after Fanny's death, as they seem to vanish from the records.



For more Taphophile Tragics, please click here.

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Darling Dick

(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012


Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


"In Loving Memory of Darling Dick.  The dearly beloved son of DICK and GID RUSSELL who died on his seventh birthday July 9th 1896 - Teach Me Thy Ways O Lord!"




Dick Russell was born on 9th July 1889 in Walton-on-Thames Surrey to Richard Russell a Stockbroker and Lina Mary Scott.  Dick's mother was from a very wealthy family, her mother being Lady Maria Scott and her sister Countess Mabel Edith Russell (no relation to Richard Russell).  Countess Mabel and Lady Maria Scott where implicated in the great Russell - Scott Scandal.

One thing I don't understand is why Lina is listed on the memorial as GID.  Maybe it's a nickname like Dick for Richard.  I guess we will never know.



For more Taphophile Tragics, please click here.

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Forgotten Babies

(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012
Little Keith


Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.



Being a mother I am always acutely aware of the graves of children in any cemetery or churchyard I visit.  It is so sad to see these graves, often with small monuments or angels, lying forgotten.  I stop and wonder if anyone remembers them or if they have been lost to their families again.  In some small way I feel that by visiting their graves and taking pictures they're remembered once again.



(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012

"Sacred To The Memory Of Frank Arthur.  Son of James and Catherine Gillett who died Feby 2nd 1860 aged 4 months and 18 days  -   The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

I'm not sure I could have been so forgiving of the Lord.  Frank Arthur was James and Catherine's first child.  Their house must have seemed so empty after his passing.


(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012


" To The Sweet Memory Of Our Darling Margaret Evelyn Haines  - aged 3 years and 9 months."


(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012


The stone carries no dates.  Margaret was born in 1927 in Poole and died in Maidenhead in 1930.


(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012

"In Loving Memory Of Our Darling Eileen Doris Andrews. Died July 1st 1937 Aged 1 Year and 9 Months - Asleep.

"In Loving Memory Of Sharon Denise Taylor Died June 30th 1961 aged 4 Months - At Peace."

These half sisters struck a cord with me, my own daughter Jessica Eris has just turned 4 months old.  Sharon died the day before the anniversary of her sisters death.  Truly sad.


I always pause at graves such as these and bless the children and I am in no way religious.  No one should ever have to bury their child.


For more Taphophile Tragic posts, please click here.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Josiah Wheeler, Jack of all Trades, and his wife Jane Wheeler




Monument to Josiah and Jane Wheeler, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saint's Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Josiah Wheeler, Born October 4th 1849, Died January 2nd 1910.

'Not my will, but thine be done.'

Also

Jane beloved wife of Josiah Wheeler, Born October 4th 1845, Died Sept 27th 1916

'Till . The . Eternal . Morrow.' "




Josiah Wheeler was born on 4th October 1848 in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire to Josiah Wheeler, a bargeman and Mary Ann Russell. Josiah first appears on the 1851 Census aged six months, living with his parents and older sister Maria at Friday Street, Henley on Thames. Living with the family at the time are Elizabeth Goody, a 12-year-old nurse maid, and Mary Stevens and unemployed house maid. By 1861 the family had moved to Bell Street, Henley on Thames.

On the 1871 Census he is listed as living with his parents at 'The Victoria Beer House' (later the Queen Victoria Public House), Market Place in Henley, Oxfordshire.  Josiah's occupation is listed as a boatman. Josiah's father, Josiah Snr was in constant trouble for selling short measures at the Victoria Beer House.

On 11th July 1871 Josiah married Jane Martin at St Mary's church, Marylebone, London. His occupation at the time of his marriage is given as Waterman. 

Jane Wheeler was born Jane Martin on 4th October 1845 in Windermere, Westmorland to Nicholas Martin a shoemaker and later a railway porter and Harriet Hodgson.  Jane first appears on the 1851 Census living with her parents and siblings at the Railway Gate House in Applewhaite, Westmorland. I have been unable to locate Jane on the 1861 or 1871 Census. 

In 1881 however Josiah, incorrectly listed as Joseph, now a publican and 'dealer', and Jane are running and un-named public house in Maidensgrove, Bix, Oxfordshire. 

1891 sees Josiah and his family living in Maidenhead at 7 Denmark Terrace, Denmark Street, Maidenhead.  Now a dairyman and butcher.  Nothing remains of Denmark Terrace as it was demolished to make way for industrial units.  In 1892 Josiah was summoned by the School Attendance Officer for not sending his daughter to school, he was again summoned in 1893 for the same office and fined 6d with 4s and 6d costs.

In the March of 1894 Josiah sued Mr Llewellwyn Samuelson for damages after his gardener inadvertently poisoned three of his cows with yew tree clippings. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on 21st March 1894:

"Claim by Dairyman

Mr. Llewellyn Samuelson, of Brookwood, Maidenhead, was sued by Josiah Wheeler, a dairyman, of Norfolk Park, Maidenhead, to recover £4l 10s., damages sustained by the defendant's servant throwing a quantity of yew tree cuttings into a field in the plaintiff's occupation. The following were the particulars of the claim:- Value of two cows killed, £30; depreciation in the value of a cow injured and damages sustained by premature calving and consequent loss through the death of the calf and loss of the use of the milk, £7; veterinary surgeon's charges, £4 10s. 

Mr. Greville, Maidenhead, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Macarthy, barrister (instructed by Mr. Weed), for the defendant. Plaintiff said that he had been in the habit occasionally of hiring in the summer small pieces of land from Mrs. Anstruther for grazing his cattle. In January last he was renting some land in the Ray Park-road for 5s. per week. He was informed on January 26th that his cows had been eating some yew clippings, and he sent for a veterinary surgeon to see them, and Mr. Eggleton came. 

One cow died during the night, a second slipped her calf on February 13th or 14th. and on March 3rd or 4th another cow died. He saw Mrs. Samuelson when the first cow died, and she told him that he must see Mr. Samuelson the next morning. He did so, and Mr. Samuelson said he should not have anything to do with it. The cows were in good condition, and were worth £14 or £l5 each, and was a reasonable figure for the other cow, as she would have to be turned out the whole summer, before she would be of any use again. Mr. Eggleton charged £4. 10s. for his services. 

In cross-examination by Mr. Bfacarthy, plaintiff said the cattle were well fed. well-bred and good milkers, and £15 each was a fair price for them. He bought two cows for £9 as a great bargain; and he worked a portion of it out by agreement. The first cow that died was one of them, and for the second cow that died he gave £9; for the one that slipped her calf he gave £l5. The piece of ground upon which the cattle were feeding had been marked out for building plots. There was an excavation in the ground, but he did not think it was a rubbish pit. 

Mrs. Jane Wheeler, wife of the plaintiff, said she went to the field on the 26th of January, and found a quantity of yew lying about. Yew clippings were on the edge of the pit, and the cows had dragged it about the field. She went to Mr. Samuelson's gardener and said, " Do you know you have taken a quantity of yew into the field? You will poison all the cows." He answered, " Oh, I never thought of the cows." She said, " You had better bring a barrow and take it away again." The boy then came and picked it up in a heap and a man took it away. Thomas Green, a boy in the employ of the plaintiff, alleged that the cows got near the pit during his dinner-hour. Mr. Graham gave evidence that the pit was not a rubbish hole, and that trespassing on the land was forbidden. 

Mr. Eggleton deposed that yew wood caused a lingering death. The amount claimed was fair and reasonable. Mr. Macarthy, for the defence, called Henry Sheppard, dairyman and cowkeeper, who said he frequently saw the plaintiff's cows, and thought they were not worth more, on an average, than £5 each. The best cow was probably worth or £9. He had ten cows of his own, all good and well-fed, but he was certain none of them would fetch £15.

Mr. F. J. Simpson, veterinary surgeon, was called, and stated that a cow which ate yew in January would have either recovered or died before March. 

Mr. J. Webster gave evidence that in his opinion the cows were not worth more than £7 each. 

After reviewing the whole of the evidence, his Honour held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover £18, for which amount the judgement was entered."  


By 1901 the family had moved to 1 East Street (now East Road), Maidenhead.  Josiah is now a lighterman as is his son Frank.  Lightermen were workers who transferred goods from large ships to the quay on flat bottomed barges called lighters.  It was dangerous and highly skilled work.

Josiah was to pass away on 2nd January 1910 aged 61.

The 1911 Census shows the widowed Jane still living at 1 East Street, Maidenhead, with her eldest daughter Harriet Martin Wheeler, and her son William Wheeler. Jane would pass away on 27th September 1916


Tuesday, 3 July 2012

The Angel of Cookham

The Angel Cookham Churchyard
(c) Nicola Carpenter 2012

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Angel monument to George Pendrill, Arthur Reed Louch and William Louch, Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cookham Berkshire.


"To The Memory Of - George Pendrill who died at Sutton Courtney, Berks July 8th 1890 aged 34 years.  Also of Arthur Reed Louch third son of the late Henry Louch Esq of Poplar London.  Who died at Sutton Courntey, Berks.  November 1st 1897 aged 58 years.  Also of William Louch twin brother of Arthur Reed Louch who died at Sutton Courtney, Berks June 8th 1901"




Arthur Reed and William Louch were born in 1839 in Poplar London to Henry, a ropemaker and Ann Louch nee Masterman.  On the 1841 Census they're shown living with their parents and sisters Ellen Masterman and Ada Reed at Manor Cottage, Poplar London.  Henry Louch was to die in 1848 and the family rope making business dissolved by his son Henry Louch in 1859.

"NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned. Anna Louch, Henry Louch, and John Thompson, under the firm of Reed, Louch Brothers, and Thompson, at Love-lane, Shadwell, in the county of Middlesex, Rope Makers, has been dissolved by mutual consent, so far as regards the undersigned
John Thompson.—Dated the 27th day of December,
1859.  Anna Louch.  Henry Louch.  John Thompson."

In 1851 both Arthur and William were attending a boarding school in George Lane Woodford Essex.  Arthur and William split briefly in 1861 when Arthur was serving on a vessel in Pembrokeshire as an engineer and William, now a civil engineer was boarding with a Samuel Grey in Swindon GWR railway village, built by Brunel to help house the many railway workers and their families.  However in 1862 they can be found both serving in the Wiltshire Rifle Volunteer Corps 11th Company, Arthur as a Lieutenant and William as an Ensign.

In 1871 they were back living with their mother Anna and sister Louisa at The Elms in Hackney.  Both Arthur and William are listed as being ropemakers.  In 1881 Arthur and William have moved to Great Marlow and are living at Quarry Chalk Pits along with George Pendrill.  Arthur and William are again listed as engineers and George is an Engine driver.  1891 find the brothers living together aged 49 at The Green, Sutton Courtney in Abingdon, then Berkshire (now Oxon).  They're now listed as 'living on their own means'.

Sadly the twin brothers were to be separated by death with Arthur dying in 1897 and William in 1901.  His brother's passing must has come as a shock to poor William, who had to get used to living without his twin for a further four years.


George James Pendrill was born on 1st June 1856 in Rotherhithe Surrey to James a barge builder and Caroline Rachel Pendrill nee Gorsuch.

This monument and the research behind it has thrown up more questions than answers.

What event or reason that caused Arthur and William to leave the Wiltshire Rifle Volunteers to return to the family business of rope making?  Why was George Pendrill living with Arthur and William in Great Marlow and why did he move with them to Sutton Courtney? 

And most confusing of all...

Why was George Pendrill buried along with Arthur and William and not in his own plot or that of his family?


The Angel in the churchyard of Holy Trinity in Cookham was to inspire Sir Stanley Spencer.  He painted a picture of The Angel with the church tower in the background in 1953



The Angel, Cookham Churchyeard 1953


Sir Stanley Spencer looking at The Angel
in Cookham Churchyard



For more Taphophile Tragic posts, please click here.


** Update, I have since e-mailed Holy Trinity Church in Cookham asking for more information about the angel monument.  Unfortunately they had no further information to give.  However they did manage to find an identical angel monument in a Tiverton churchyard.  I am currently trying to find out if there is a connection between the two angels.

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